03/05 :  Saturday 1st May 2010 Apiary Meeting

   Another cold afternoon for our meeting when over 20 keen beekeepers listened to Ian Homer - formerly the Regional Bee Inspector, now an Extension & Learning Officer - who kindly gave us a very interesting talk on ‘Bee Health’.

Firstly he brought the updated Fera (The Food & Environment Research Agency) versions of the booklets on ‘Managing Varroa and Foul Brood’.
Further copies can be obtained by contacting The National Bee Unit, tel 01904-462510 or visit the website at www.nationalbeeunit.com.

He gave us some very useful information on how to recognise disease.

A FEW FACTS1. Ian said that sadly Beekeepers are not very good identifying disease - the Bee Inspector picks up over 90% of bee diseases that are discovered 2. The Beekeeper must be able to recognise what is normal brood3. Varroa management should be incorporated at every inspection of a colony

4. Every effort should be made to avoid crushing bees for bee health as any disease is likely to be carried in the stomach of the bee – therefore crushed bees spread disease

5. Ian recommended that Hive tools and other utensils that are used be put into a solution of 1 kilo washing soda to a gallon of water which makes a ph12 – an effective disinfectant

The Hives then were opened up and diseases were looked for ...

HIVE 7 - 14x12No other disease found – except for varroa mites of which there were very few.  On inspection – it was noticed that in the supers with castellations, brace comb was being built up between the supers & frames (with undrawn foundation) - which can cause a problem.  Only fully drawn frames should be put into castellated supers.
 
Lot of bees in colony – no queen found - no sign of eggs – young larvae present - a couple of queen cells found - decision was made at the time to look at this colony again in 48hrs and then take appropriate action
(NB: This colony was examined again on Monday 03/05/2010, the queen was found (and marked) and an artificial swarm made).
     HIVE 4 – NationalNo other disease found – except for a high varroa mite count on tray  - this  will have to be dealt with very soon.
On inspection Queen marked Green seen laying well
Drone culling done – very few mites were seen in cells
(NB This colony was examined again on Monday 03/05/2010 and an artificial swarm made)
HIVE 2 – NationalNo disease found – no mites found.
This colony was shook swarmed 2 weeks ago – all the new frames drawn out well – queen laying well – good-tempered bees
HIVE 6 - 14X12No other disease found – except for very few varroa mites.

Ian took at least 30 bees home to check for Nosema and Acarine – nothing was found.
This colony not doing very well – the bees were moving around slowly on the combs – only 2 brood frames had any signs of eggs and larvae – the queen a very poor layer – thoughts are that as it was a queen who was born late last year and that she was not properly mated,
Date of next monthly meeting Saturday 5th June 2010 at 1430hrs



Sally  Apiary Report  Comment(s) 0    printer friendly